Alpamayo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alpamayo |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,947 m (19,511 ft) |
| Prominence | 447 m (1,467 ft) |
| Parent peak | Quitaraju |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help) |
| Geography | |
 Alpamayo
Location in Peru
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| Location | Ancash, Peru |
| Parent range | Cordillera Blanca |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | June 20, 1957, by Günter Hauser, Berhard Huhn and Horst Wiedmann. |
| Easiest route | Difficult snow/ice climb on SW face |
Alpamayo is a famous mountain in the Andes mountain range in Peru. It's part of a group of mountains called the Cordillera Blanca. People sometimes call it Shuyturaju.
The name Alpamayo might come from the Quechua words allpa (earth) and mayu (river). This means "earth river". Shuyturaju might mean "oblong, slim and long mountain covered in snow".
Alpamayo is known for its unique pyramid shape. Many people think it's one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. In 1966, a German magazine called "Alpinismus" even published a photo of it. They asked mountain climbing experts, and Alpamayo was chosen as "The Most Beautiful Mountain in the World".
Alpamayo stands next to Quitaraju, which is a little bit taller. A small stream called Alpamayo Creek starts near the mountain.
Climbing Alpamayo
Alpamayo is a challenging mountain to climb. It's popular with experienced climbers from all over the world.
First Climbs
The first people to try climbing Alpamayo were a French-Belgian team in 1951. This group included George and Claude Kogan. They thought they were the first to reach the top.
However, a German team later looked at their photos. This German team included G. Hauser, F. Knauss, B. Huhn, and H. Wiedmann. They believed the 1951 team did not reach the very highest point. So, the German team climbed Alpamayo in 1957. They went up the north ridge. Their climb is now recognized as the first time anyone reached the true summit.
Popular Climbing Routes
Most climbing trips to Alpamayo begin from a village called Caraz. This village is located north of the Cordillera Blanca.
The most common way to climb Alpamayo is called the Ferrari route. This path is on the southwest side of the mountain. An Italian team led by Casimiro Ferrari first climbed this route in 1975.
Climbing the Ferrari route is very difficult. It requires special skills like using crampons (spikes on boots for ice) and ice climbing techniques. Climbers get amazing views of steep ice walls and huge white peaks. You can see mountains like Huandoy Norte, Artesonraju, and Huascaran Norte. The scenery is often compared to the beautiful mountains in the Himalayas.
There are also at least six other ways to climb Alpamayo. The second most popular route is called the Vasque-French route.
Images for kids
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Alpamayo's famous pyramid shape.
See Also
In Spanish: Alpamayo para niños
